The Indoor Kids #117: The Console Cycle Look Back with Jordan Morris Again!

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We didn’t even get to the topic last time, so we thought we should bring Jordan Morris back for an in-depth discussion of the trends that started in this console cycle, the trends that died in this console life cycle, plus Kumail saw The Breakfast Club for the first time, and comic books and GTAV talk and more!

The Last of Us’ multiplayer mode was/is terrific and anything but “tacked-on”. It’s gotten very favorable reviews and it’s unfortunate that the one time it’s mentioned on this podcast, it’s by someone who is pretty far into the minority.

First of all I want to say great blog! I had a quick question which I’d like to ask if you don’t mind.
I was interested to find out how you center yourself and clear your head prior
to writing. I’ve had a tough time clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out.
I do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes tend
to be lost just trying to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or tips?
Many thanks!

I really miss local cooperative campaigns. There are some series that did a great job with that this gen (like gears of war, even if it is not an extremely liked game).

The Last of Us was definitely one of my favourite games this year, this gen, and probably all time. Just so immersive and a game that can make me cry 4 times can be compared to any TV series or film.
Journey was also an amazing treat!

I feel like this year has been amazing for games, as the console cycle winds down. With a line up including Bioshock Infinite, The Last of Us and GTA V, it’s funny that the game that stuck with me the most was a little 3 hour story in Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.

I agree completely with making all fighting in games like the Batman games. Why don’t all games just make their fighting mechanics like that. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Regarding Grant Morrison. He’s going to be on Australian radio station Triple J picking five songs and talking about them. It goes for about an hour and should be an interesting listen. You should be able to check it out here http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/zan/take_five/ after Friday the 4th of October

I would say one of the biggest things from this console generation is the ability to download full retail games. I know PC gamers have been doing this for years, but for the 360, PS4, Wii and Wii U and even 3DS and PSVita this was a huge deal. When triple A titles started becoming available for download, that made brick and mortar retailers sweat.

Now with the upcoming generation having Day One downloadable games, retailers are going to be scrambling to keep disc-based gaming relevant. We’ll probably see even more retailer exclusive DLC , even crazier special and collectors editions of big games and more incentives to pre-order games.

I know for a fact that when I get my Xbox One, any game I buy will be purchased through digital means. I think that for a very few progressive gamers out there (myself included), a couple of things that die with this current generation is physical media and brick and mortar stores.

I’m 26 and I still play Pokémon! I have WiiU – the LoZ Windwaker redo recently came out for it.
I feel like Nintendo is always relevant, though, because they were not only one of the forerunners, but their games can span age groups and backgrounds.

1) I don’t think Nintendo isn’t “evolving” because they’re always placating the Japanese and American audiences. I think that’s restricted them from having concrete or complicated storylines. American companies have a “rails-plot” type video games. Japanese companies have more of a “wandering story” type video games. The US has Grand Theft Auto and the Japanese have Shadow of the Colossus.

2) To understand The Filth, I think the main thing to remember is that it came out right after 9-11. If you read the Filth with Morrison’s X-Men, it works as sort of a commentary against violence. In the Filth, Morrison does the opposite of his run in the Invisibles. The Invisibles was all about normal people becoming super spies. The Filth was all about the decadence and horrors that come from being spies and finding a way to be a decent human being (from the Filth comes Flowers). A good book that would be a great counterpoint to this (and very enlightening if you’ve been reading Supergods), is Grant Morrison’s Flex Mentallo that would really really fit both your sense of humor and the idea of “understanding America through the eyes of comics as a kid.”

Awesome to hear Jo Mo back on the show! You guys all gel so well together. Can he step in to replace the dearly departed (from the show, not from life… I think. R.I.Possible?) Matthew Burnside. Jordan is the only guest capable of bringing the rapport and amiably with both hosts, with Pete Holmes and Steve Agee taking the silver and bronze respectively.

Also, when y’all were talking GTA V, I find that I listen to the radio stations that the characters themselves would listen to. Trevor listens to Channel X, or Vinewood Boulevard Radio, Michael clearly listens to classic rock, and Franklin would listen to Los Santos Radio, or West Coast Classic, or Fylo, or funk. I assume I’m not the only person that does this, but who knows? Maybe I’m completely alone on this, but someone out there must be equally crazy in this fashion.

As far as the console stuff goes, I would say this is the first, but definitely not the last, cycle that the consoles to not just be a gaming machine, but a media device with things like Netflix, HBO GO, movie rentals, etc. I think this is pretty awesome, but I’m sure some people think this deters and hurts the gaming aspect of this. (see; XBox One debacle.)

Sweet show guys! Thanks for not spoiling anything and apologizing a sufficient amount of times.